Mobile terminal to media server connection apparatus, system, and method

Abstract

An apparatus, system, and method for a communication network that includes base stations, mobile terminals, and media servers. A base station may receive enable a device-to-device connection between a media server and a mobile terminal. The mobile terminal and the media server may establish the enabled device-to-device connection to create an underlay network within the cellular network, the underlay network including the mobile terminal, the media server, and the device-to-device connection. In some embodiments, the mobile terminal and the media server each include a device-to-device radio that is used to establish and maintain the device-to-device connection.

1 . A method, comprising:
 enabling a device-to-device connection between a media server and a mobile terminal by creating an underlay network within a cellular network, the underlay network comprising the mobile terminal in communication with the media server via the device-to-device connection.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a request from the mobile terminal to establish the device-to-device connection with the media server.   
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 detecting device-to-device traffic within the cellular network.   
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 classifying traffic corresponding to device-to-device connections as device-to-device traffic.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 communicating connection availability data to the mobile terminal, the connection availability data configured to indicate an opportunity to establish a device-to-device connection with the media server.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the connection availability data comprises data associated with the media server. 
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the data associated with the media server comprises at least one of a phone number, a session initiation protocol address, and a universal resource locator corresponding to the media server. 
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the device-to-device connection is facilitated by a device-to-device radio of the media server and the mobile terminal. 
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 registering the media server with the cellular network.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving attribute data from at least one of the media server and the mobile terminal.   
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 determining an estimation of device-to-device traffic corresponding to the media server.   
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 assigning resources for device-to-device connections.   
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 coordinating with other networks to manage roaming mobile terminals establishing a device-to-device connection with the media server.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the coordinating is facilitated by a web service. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least part of the enabling is performed by a base station in communication with the media server and the mobile terminal. 
   
   
       16 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a device-to-device connection enablement unit configured to enable a device-to-device connection between a media server and a mobile terminal to create an underlay network within a cellular network, the underlay network comprising the mobile terminal in communication with the media server via the device-to-device connection.   
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a reception unit configured to receive a request from the mobile terminal to establish the device-to-device connection with the media server.   
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a device-to-device traffic detection unit configured to detect device-to-device traffic within the cellular network.   
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a traffic classification unit configured to classify traffic corresponding to device-to-device connections as device-to-device traffic.   
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a transmission unit configured to transmit connection availability data to the mobile terminal, the connection availability data configured to indicate an opportunity to establish a device-to-device connection with the media server.   
   
   
       21 . The apparatus of  claim 20 , wherein the connection availability data comprises data associated with the media server. 
   
   
       22 . The apparatus of  claim 21 , wherein the data associated with the media server comprises at least one of a phone number, a session initiation protocol address, and a universal resource locator corresponding to the media server. 
   
   
       23 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the device-to-device connection is facilitated by a device-to-device radio of the media server and the mobile terminal. 
   
   
       24 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a registration unit configured to register the media server with the cellular network.   
   
   
       25 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a reception unit configured to receive attribute data from at least one of the media server and the mobile terminal.   
   
   
       26 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a device-to-device estimation unit configured to determine an estimation of device-to-device traffic corresponding to the media server.   
   
   
       27 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a resource assignment unit configured to assign network resources for device-to-device connections.   
   
   
       28 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , further comprising:
 a roaming terminal unit configured to manage roaming mobile terminals establishing a device-to-device connection with the media server.   
   
   
       29 . The apparatus of  claim 28 , wherein management of the roaming mobile-terminals is facilitated by a web service. 
   
   
       30 . The apparatus of  claim 16 , wherein the apparatus comprises a base station in communication with the media server and the mobile terminal. 
   
   
       31 . An apparatus, comprising:
 means for enabling a device-to-device connection between a media server and a mobile terminal to create an underlay network within the cellular network, the underlay network comprising the mobile terminal in communication with the media server via the device-to-device connection.   
   
   
       32 . A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer program configured to control a processor to perform operations comprising:
 enabling a device-to-device connection between a media server and a mobile terminal to create an underlay network within the cellular network, the underlay network comprising the mobile terminal in communication with the media server via the device-to-device connection.   
   
   
       33 . A method, comprising:
 establishing a device-to-device connection with a media server to create an underlay network within a cellular network, the underlay network comprising the device-to-device connection with the media server.   
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 transmitting a request to a base station to establish the device-to-device connection with the media server, wherein the base station is configured to enable the device-to-device connection   
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein the transmitting of the request comprises transmitting data corresponding to at least one of a phone number, a session initiation protocol address, and a universal resource locator corresponding to the media server. 
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 33 , further comprising:
 receiving connection availability data from a base station, the connection availability data configured to indicate an opportunity to establish a device-to-device connection with the media server.   
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein the establishing of the device-to-device connection comprises using a local device-to-device radio to communicate with a device-to-device radio of the media server. 
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 33 , wherein at least part of the establishing is performed by a mobile terminal in the cellular network. 
   
   
       39 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a device-to-device connection establishment unit configured to establish a device-to-device connection with a media server to create an underlay network within a cellular network, the underlay network comprising the device-to-device connection with the media server.   
   
   
       40 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 a transmission unit configured to transmit a request to a base station of the cellular network to establish a device-to-device connection with the media server, wherein the base station is configured to enable the device-to-device connection.   
   
   
       41 . The apparatus of  claim 40 , wherein the request comprises transmitting data corresponding to at least one of a phone number, a session initiation protocol address, and a universal resource locator corresponding to the media server. 
   
   
       42 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein traffic corresponding to the device-to-device connection is classified as device-to-device traffic by the base station. 
   
   
       43 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , further comprising:
 a reception unit configured to receive connection availability data from a base station, the connection availability data configured to indicate an opportunity to establish a device-to-device connection with the media server.   
   
   
       44 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the device-to-device connection establishment unit is configured to establish the device-to-device connection by using a local device-to-device radio to communicate with a device-to-device radio of the media server. 
   
   
       45 . The apparatus of  claim 39 , wherein the apparatus comprises a mobile terminal in the cellular network. 
   
   
       46 . An apparatus, comprising:
 means for establishing a device-to-device connection with a media server to create an underlay network within the cellular network, the underlay network comprising the device-to-device connection with the media server.   
   
   
       47 . A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer program configured to control a processor unit to perform operations comprising:
 establishing a device-to-device connection with a media server to create an underlay network within the cellular network, the underlay network comprising the device-to-device connection with the media server.   
   
   
       48 . A method, comprising:
 establishing a device-to-device connection with the mobile device to create an underlay network within the cellular network, the underlay network comprising the device-to-device connection with the mobile device.   
   
   
       49 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 receiving device-to-device connection enablement data regarding the mobile terminal from a base station of the cellular network.   
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 communicating connection availability data to enable establishment of the device-to-device connection with the mobile device.   
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 advertising connection availability data to enable establishment of the device-to-device connection with the mobile device.   
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 51 , wherein the connection availability data comprises at least one of a phone number, a session initiation protocol address, and a universal resource locator corresponding to the media server. 
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 48 , wherein the establishing of the device-to-device connection comprises using a local device-to-device radio to communicate with a local device-to-device radio of the mobile terminal. 
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 registering with the cellular network.   
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 48 , further comprising:
 communicating attribute data to the base station.   
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 48  wherein the establishing is performed by a media server in the cellular network. 
   
   
       57 . An apparatus, comprising:
 a device-to-device connection unit configured to establish a device-to-device connection with a mobile device to create an underlay network within the cellular network, the underlay network comprising the device-to-device connection with the mobile device.   
   
   
       58 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 a reception unit configured to receive device-to-device connection enablement data regarding the mobile terminal from a base station of the cellular network.   
   
   
       59 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 a display unit configured to communicate connection availability data to enable establishment of the device-to-device connection with the mobile device.   
   
   
       60 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 a display unit configured to advertise connection availability data to enable establishment of the device-to-device connection with the mobile device.   
   
   
       61 . The apparatus of  claim 60 , wherein the connection availability data comprises at least one of a phone number, a session initiation protocol address, and a universal resource locator corresponding to the media server. 
   
   
       62 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the device-to-device connection unit is configured to establish the device-to-device connection by using a local device-to-device radio to communicate with a local device-to-device radio of the mobile terminal. 
   
   
       63 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 a reception unit and a transmission unit configured to enable the apparatus to register with the cellular network.   
   
   
       64 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , further comprising:
 a transmission unit configured to transmit attribute data to the base station.   
   
   
       65 . The apparatus of  claim 57 , wherein the apparatus comprises a media server in the cellular network. 
   
   
       66 . An apparatus, comprising:
 means for establishing a device-to-device connection with a mobile device to create an underlay network within the cellular network, the underlay network comprising the device-to-device connection with the mobile device.   
   
   
       67 . A computer program embodied on a computer-readable medium, the computer program configured to control a processor to perform operations comprising:
 establishing a device-to-device connection with a mobile device to create an underlay network within the cellular network, the underlay network comprising the device-to-device connection with the mobile device.   
   
   
       68 . A mobile terminal, comprising:
 a device-to-device connection unit configured to establish a device-to-device connection with a mobile device to create an underlay network within the cellular network, the underlay network comprising the device-to-device connection with the mobile device, wherein the mobile terminal operates as a media server.   
   
   
       69 . A system, comprising:
 a base station of a cellular network;   a mobile terminal; and   a media server,   wherein the base station is configured to enable a device-to-device connection between the media server and the mobile terminal,   wherein the mobile terminal and the media server are configured to establish the device-to-device connection to create an underlay network within the cellular network, the underlay network comprising the mobile terminal, the media server, and the device-to-device connection.